Category Archives: Kyoto

.

Higashiyama

Kyoto’s Higashiyama is a happening area with souvenir stores, cafes, restaurants galleries and more. Yes, it is very touristic, but try not to apply a regular tourist stop mentality that one dons in other counties. Everything is priced accordingly to quality .

Guidebooks (and the actual guides) fail to give good directions on how find this district (1 of 11 in all Kyoto). They all seemed to claim ‘no definite address‘! After butting heads with taxi drivers and walking and walking and walking … we came to the conclusion the best way to get there is asking directions to The Ryōzen Kannon; a war memorial and giant white concrete statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. Across the main street entrance to the memorial is an uphill walking street. This is the best place to start your walk. See map at the end of the post. (In our opinon, The Ryōzen Kannon is not worth the time in a city of more interesting temples and shrines.)

Start early before the crowds arrive at Kōdai-ji. Take a taxi to The Ryōzen Kannon – walk up and around the Higashiyama streets, stop for lunch wheverer catches your eye (or just enjoy all the street samples!). Follow this with a short walk to the Hokan-ji (Yasaka Pagoda) and walk back uphill and continue to Kiyomizu-dera for the astounding evening lights.

I you want to do something fun you can rent a Kimono (his & hers) at Kyoto Kimono Rental at the beginning of the Higashiyama walk . Most Japanese woman and a few men rent Kimonos to tour Kyoto and other historical cities. It is super cute, lends to wonderful photos! The rental house will also do your hair and accessorize! Returns are very easy.

Highly recommended is the the ume boshi store. It is one of the best we found in all Japan. We didn’t purchase enough at the cheaper tourist price and found the same brand at the Ginza Mitsokishi department store, but at a higher price.

green tea cappuccino

Masterpiece MSPC

Open Hours: 11:00-20:00 Daily

Master-Piece is another of the great design stores that one should visit while in Kyoto. MasterPiece specializes in waterproof bags; thoroughly designed with all the correct compartments, straps and details.

Master-Piece started as a company dedicated to creating all-weather gear for sailors and marine workers. Then changing with the times to include consumer goods. All made with impeccable Japanese quality.

This falls, once again, into a should’ve, would’ve, could’ve category; where we regret not purchasing one of the expensive, but of excellent value shoulder bags. Yes they are not cheap; but that is exactly the point. This is an item that will last and serve you well throughout.

If for nothing else visit the store the store in Kyoto for its small cafe with view to an amazing garden and enjoy a delicious green tea latte 🙂

There are also outposts in Tokyo and Osaka and the bags are available in luxury department stores throughout Japan.

Bentendo Hall

Daigoji

Open Hours to non guests: 9:00-16:00 Daily

Daigoji is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto. In a city over-flowing with such sites, it might be a thought to skip Daigoji as it is a bit distant from the usual tourist areas. Daigoji is truly worth the trip. It holds one of the most beautiful gardens in all Kyoto; The perfect place to contemplate the colors of fall and the blooms of spring.

The temple complex was founded in 874. After Emperor Daigo abdicated in 930, he entered the Buddhist priesthood at this temple and died here. He was also buried on the temple grounds and it now bears his name.

The Daigoji complex holds eighteen national treasures and is laid out in three parts: Sambō-in, Shimo-Daigo (Lower Daigo) at the base of the mountain, and Kami-Daigo (Upper Daigo).

Bentendo Hall is dedicated to Benzaiten (Sarasvati), the goddess of knowledge and liberal arts. She is known as one of Seven Deities of Good Fortune (Shichifukujin).

Toraya at Tokyo Midtown

Toraya Tokyo Midtown

Open Hours: 11:00 – 21:00 Daily

Toraya is the oldest existing wagashi (Japanese confections) store. Dating back to the mid sixteenth century in Kyoto, where it became a purveyor to the imperial court under the reign of Emperor Go-Yōzei (1571-1617). Towards the end of the Edo period Toraya moved their center of operations to Tokyo, leaving behind the orginal store in Kyoto.

Currently, The flagship store is in Akasaka, and other locations in the main luxury department stores around Tokyo.

The Toraya store in the lower lever of Tokyo midtown, a commercial, business and residential complex in Roppongi, is a great example of the modern life of this 400+ year old business. It is an excellent location to go for delicious Japanese sweets. This Toraya location also serves as an art gallery and a cafe as well as an amazing wagashi related souvenir shop

Wagashi are Japanese confections) in which main element is azuki bean paste. This is made by cooking the beans with sugar, mashing them and finally straining the mix through a fine sieve to produce a smooth paste called gozen an (koshi an). When the paste is not strained it is called ogura an (tsubu an).

In addition to bean pastes, other wagashi ingredients can be agar-agar, rice flour, Kanten (a fiber rich gelatin made from seaweed) and oldest domestic sugar which is made with rare kind of sugar cane from Tokushima prefecture, commonly made into molded dried sweets (higashi)

Wagashi confections are based on the principle to appeal the five senses; appearance, taste, texture, scent and sound

In Kyoto there are two locations:

The principal store, combined with decent sized tea house, is on a street west of the Kyoto Imperial Palace and garden. The teahouse holds a lovely small library and some of the tables have a picteresque garden view. Address: Karasuma-Nishi-iru, Ichijo-dori, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto

The other is next to the Fujii Daimaru department store on Shijo-dori – the road that connects the Gion district with wetern Kyoto. Address: Gokomachi-Nishi-iru, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto

There are many wonderful Wagashi shops in all of Japan and trying the different styles and specially Toraya!